Seattle, WA
#19 US freight hub — owner-operator guide to rates, shippers, parking, and opportunities.
#19
Freight Rank
737,015
Population
Poor
Truck Parking
West Coast
Region
Average Rates Per Mile
| Equipment Type | Rate / Mile |
|---|---|
| Dry Van | $2.45 |
| Reefer | $2.85 |
| Flatbed | $3.15 |
Key Highways
I-5I-90I-405SR-99SR-167SR-18
Top Industries
E-commerce (Amazon)
Aerospace (Boeing)
Technology
Coffee & food
Retail
Major Distribution Centers
Amazon HQ & BFI4 (Kent)
Boeing Everett Factory
Costco Corporate HQ & DC (Issaquah)
Starbucks Roasting Plant (Kent)
REI Distribution Center (Sumner)
Nordstrom DC (Cedar Rapids — regional feeder)
Top Shippers
A
AmazonB
BoeingC
CostcoS
StarbucksM
MicrosoftNearby Ports
Port of SeattlePort of Tacoma (Northwest Seaport Alliance)
Truck Stops
Pilot Travel Center (Fife)
Love's Travel Stop (Pacific)
TA Petro (North Bend)
Flying J (Fife)
Silver Lake Truck Stop (Everett)
Challenges
- I-5 through Seattle-Tacoma is consistently ranked among the worst congestion in the US
- Mountain passes (Snoqualmie I-90, Stevens US-2) close during winter storms
- Washington state requires chain carry from November through March on mountain routes
- Limited truck parking in the Puget Sound area
Opportunities
- Amazon HQ proximity means constant e-commerce fulfillment freight
- Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle-Tacoma) handles major Asian imports
- Boeing 777X and 787 production creates specialized aerospace freight
- Pacific Northwest agriculture (apples, cherries, hops) generates seasonal reefer loads
Seasonal Freight Patterns
Apple harvest (August-November) creates massive reefer outbound from Yakima/Wenatchee. Holiday e-commerce from Amazon peaks October-December. Boeing production is steady year-round. Cherry season (June-July) is short but intense. Winter weather closes mountain passes periodically.
Trucking in Seattle — FAQ
Average rates per mile out of Seattle: Dry Van $2.45, Reefer $2.85, Flatbed $3.15. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions. Seattle is ranked #19 among US freight hubs by volume.
Truck parking in Seattle is rated "poor." Popular stops include Pilot Travel Center (Fife), Love's Travel Stop (Pacific), TA Petro (North Bend). Plan ahead and arrive early — spots fill up fast, especially overnight.
Top shippers operating in the Seattle freight market include Amazon, Boeing, Costco, Starbucks, Microsoft. Key industries driving freight demand are e-commerce (amazon), aerospace (boeing), technology.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Seattle include: I-5 through Seattle-Tacoma is consistently ranked among the worst congestion in the US; Mountain passes (Snoqualmie I-90, Stevens US-2) close during winter storms; Washington state requires chain carry from November through March on mountain routes. However, opportunities include amazon hq proximity means constant e-commerce fulfillment freight.